Ceramics of the fisheries: an analysis of Breton coarse earthenwares in the North Atlantic from the 16th to the 19th centuries

Abstract

This research examines post-medieval coarse earthenwares produced in Brittany, France, between the 16th and 19th centuries, brought by Breton fishers participating in the migratory cod fisheries to the North Atlantic region of Canada, including Newfoundland and Labrador, Saint- Pierre et Miquelon, and Nova Scotia. Alongside the Basques and Normans, the Bretons were among the first European groups to exploit the Gulf of St. Lawrence�s marine resources. Yet, despite their central role in the early transatlantic cod fisheries, their material culture in the North Atlantic remains underexplored, and knowledge of Breton ceramics is almost nonexistent in North America. In Brittany, coarse earthenwares were produced on an artisanal scale primarily for local sale, with larger production centres distributing their vessels regionally. Therefore, their presence in the North Atlantic serves as tangible evidence of coastal Breton communities and offers insight into their involvement in transatlantic fisheries. By comparing the ceramic assemblages from the Anse - Bertrand site in Saint-Pierre and eight French fisheries sites in Atlantic Canada with reference collections from ceramic production centres in Brittany, this thesis identifies the Breton regions most directly associated with crewing and outfitting ships for the North Atlantic cod fisheries. By integrating microscopic analysis and historical data from both production contexts and transatlantic consumption contexts, this research advances understanding of Breton ceramics, the regional identities of Breton fisherfolk, and the development of the transatlantic cod fishery.